Pirates Blank Cubs, Tigers Down White Sox

Published on June 13 2014 2:18 am
Last Updated on June 13 2014 2:18 am
Written by Millie Lange

Pirates Blank Cubs

(Pittsburgh, PA) -- Edinson Volquez and two relievers combined on a seven-hit shutout as the Pirates blanked the Cubs 4-0 at PNC Park. Volquez struck out five over seven innings as he improved to 4-5. Andrew McCutchen hit a two-run double, while Russell Martin and Jordy Mercer also plated a run each for the Bucs, who took three-of-four in the series. Jeff Samardzija struck out seven, but allowed all four runs to fall to 2-6 with the loss. Darwin Barney and Luis Valbuena had two hits apiece for the Cubs, who have lost four-of-five since a five-game winning streak.

Cubs outfielder Emilio Bonifacio failed to make it out of the first inning after injuring himself at the plate. He left with a rib cage injury he suffered while swinging the bat. Bonifacio has struggled since the end of April. His average has dropped from .337 to .266 since that time.

Cardinals Clash With Nationals

(St. Louis, MO) -- The Cardinals clash with the Nationals in the first of three games tonight at Busch Stadium. It's the first game of a 10-game homestand. The Cards will send Lance Lynn to the hill against Jordan Zimmermann of the Nats. The teams split a four-game series in April.

The Cardinals expect to have first baseman Matt Adams back from the disabled list today. It's his first eligible day to come off the 15-day DL. He has been rehabbing in the minors. Adams played first and was 1-for-4 last night with Triple-A Memphis.

Tigers Down White Sox To Avoid Sweep

(Chicago, IL) -- Max Scherzer tossed his first career complete game shutout as the Tigers blanked the White Sox 4-0 to avoid a three-game sweep at U.S. Cellular Field. Scherzer struck out eight while giving up just three hits and three walks as he improved to 8-and-2 with the win. Victor Martinez homered and Miguel Cabrera plated two for the Tigers, who snapped a three-game skid. Bryan Holaday went 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored in the victory. Chris Sale allowed just one run while fanning 10 in seven frames, but fell to 5-1 with the tough-luck loss. Chicago had won the first two of the rain-shortened three-game series.

Reds Down Dodgers To Earn Series Split

(Cincinnati, OH) -- Todd Frazier belted a two-run homer to back eight stellar innings from Alfredo Simon as the Reds beat the Dodgers 4-1 at Great American Ball Park. Frazier connected for a two-run blast in the first inning off Los Angeles starter Zack Greinke. Ryan Ludwick also had an RBI single for Cincinnati, which earned a split of the four-game series. Simon allowed seven hits and one run to improve to 9-and-3 with the win. Aroldis Chapman posted his 10th save. Greinke dropped to 8-and-3 with the loss. Matt Kemp went 2-for-3 and singled in the lone run for the Dodgers in the first inning.

Mayberry Jr. Homers, Phillies Sweep Padres

(Philadelphia, PA) -- Pinch-hitter Reid Brignac cracked a tiebreaking, two-run double in the sixth inning as the Phillies beat the Padres 7-3 to complete the three-game sweep at Citizens Bank Park. John Mayberry Jr. went 3-for-4, including a three-run homer in the seventh. Kyle Kendrick pitched six innings of two-run ball to improve to 2-and-6 with the win. Eric Stults was touched for eight hits and four runs in five-plus frames to fall to 2-8 with the loss. Yasmani Grandal went deep in the ninth for his sixth home run for the Friars, who have dropped four straight.

Rockies Beat Braves Athletics, Tempers Flare

(Denver, CO) -- Charlie Blackmon and Justin Morneau both homered as the Rockies beat the Braves 10-3 at Coors Field. The game was marred by four late ejections. Colorado's Corey Dickerson knocked Atlanta catcher Gerald Laird out of the game in the eighth inning when he struck him in the mask with his follow through on a foul ball. Dickerson was then drilled with a pitch by David Carpenter, leading to his ejection. Rockies manager Walt Weiss was also tossed after being restrained in protest. Rockies reliever Nick Masset then hit Laird's replacement, Evan Gattis with a pitch in the ninth and was tossed, along with bench coach Tom Runnells. Jhoulys Chacin got the win and Ervin Santana the loss. B.J. Upton homered for Atlanta.

Giants Top Nationals To Avoid Four-Game Sweep

(San Francisco, CA) -- Michael Morse and Hunter Pence each had three hits and Hector Sanchez singled in two runs as the Giants beat the Nationals 7-1 at AT&T Park. Tyler Colvin and Brandon Crawford each had two hits and an RBI for San Francisco, which salvaged the finale of the four-game series. Tim Hudson allowed just an unearned run in seven innings to improve to 7-2 with the win. Blake Treinen gave up two runs in five frames to fall to 0-3 with the loss. Ryan Zimmerman singled in the lone run in the fourth inning for Washington, which had won four straight and eight of its previous nine games

Brewers Rally By Mets

(Flushing, NY) -- Jonathan Lucroy hit a two-run homer to kick start a four-run 13th inning as the Brewers blasted the Mets 5-1 from Citi Field. Aramis Ramirez was 3-for-5 with a solo home run for Milwaukee, which has won four of five. Kyle Lohse allowed an unearned run in eight innings while Zach Duke picked up the win. Jon Niese struck out eight and gave up a run in seven-and-two-thirds innings for a no decision. Carlos Torres took the loss for New York, which has lost eight of nine. Bobby Abreu knocked in the only run.

Red Sox Sink Indians

(Boston, MA) -- David Ortiz hit a two-run homer to help the Red Sox sink the Indians 5-2 from Fenway Park. Brock Holt also knocked in two runs for Boston, which has won three of five. Jon Lester gave up one earned run and two total in 7 2/3 innings for his seventh win. Koji Uehara picked up his 14th save. Josh Tomlin allowed four runs in 5 2/3 frames for the loss. Jason Kipnis drove in two runs for Cleveland, which has lost three straight.

Yankees Finish Off Sweep Of Mariners

(Seattle, WA) -- Chase Whitley tossed seven-and-two-thirds innings of two-run ball to earn his second career win and help the Yankees beat the Mariners 6-3 at Safeco Field. Derek Jeter collected three hits and drove in two while Jacoby Ellsbury hit a two-run home run in the win. Ellsbury left the game in the bottom of the seventh with tightness in his right hip. David Robertson locked down his 16th save and Alfonso Soriano drove in two for New York. Roenis Elias was tagged for six runs through 3 1/3 to fall to 5-5. Logan Morrison went deep and drove in two in the loss while James Jones accounted for the other RBI.

Astros Walk-Off On Diamondbacks In 10th

(Houston, TX) -- Chris Carter smacked a walk-off solo homer in the bottom of the 10th inning to lift the Astros past the Diamondbacks 5-4 at Minute Maid Park. Carlos Corporan and Jon Singleton also went deep and drove in two runs each for the Astros, who took three-of-four in the home-and-home series. Tony Sipp picked up the win against his former team. Miguel Montero hit a game-tying solo homer in the top of the ninth, while Chris Owings had a solo blast in the seventh for Arizona, which had won five-of-six before this series. J.J. Putz suffered his first loss.